Good Vibrations

I've come across a number of studies lately looking at "whole-body vibration."  Whole-body vibration is, just like it sounds, when a person stands on a platform that is vibrating.  Incredibly, this procedure has been shown to produce health benefits, such as increased bone density.

The interesting question for me is why this procedure may work.  Obviously, our prehistoric ancestors weren't standing on vibrating plates.  This study says whole-body vibration (WBV) elicts a biological response similar to that of explosive power or resistance training.  In other words, WBV causes the muscles to contract reflexively, the same as muscles do during jumping or explosive strength movements.

Maybe researchers have found a short-cut of sorts - a technique for which people can get benefits without essentially doing anything.  This could certainly help those who are unable or just unwilling to exercise.  It's too early to tell, but it is an interesting concept.